NBA Playoffs Thread

[holden]

I say San Antonio in 6

Duncan is close to almost 100% healthy - nothing sheed can do against Duncan

the only x-factor I see is if sheed starts knocking down 3's, duncan would have to come out and guard him which changes the spur's help defense

they'll put Prince on Manu

Bowen will be on Rip

Nazer will have to have good rebound games

fun series

 

[Meister]

As for the Finals, I still like the Pistons. I just think they are an extremely well balanced, well coached, versatile team.

That's why I like them. It is not a team of stars, but rather a mixtures of no name guys who gelled together really well.

 

[Kwazy]

maybe...is that how they're calling it???

I say San Antonio in 6

Duncan is close to almost 100% healthy - nothing sheed can do against Duncan

the only x-factor I see is if sheed starts knocking down 3's, duncan would have to come out and guard him which changes the spur's help defense

they'll put Prince on Manu

Bowen will be on Rip

Nazer will have to have good rebound games

fun series

Maybe Ben Wallace on Duncan
I agree, Prince on Manu
Bowen will die covering Rip
Wallace will have a field day if left to wander about

 

[Kwazy]

and unlike San Antonio or Miami...

That's why I like them. It is not a team of stars, but rather a mixtures of no name guys who gelled together really well.

If Detroit loses any ONE player to injuries they are still a great team!

San Antonio and Miami are much lesser teams without Duncan Shaq or Wade.

 

[holden]

actually I think san antonio is deeper then detroit

that's why I think spurs will win in 6 b/c of their bench play

 

[zydeco]

As much as I would have liked the Heat to prevail, I think what we're left with will make for a better series. I'd have to agree with Holden - I think the Spurs are deeper and should take the series - to a large extent it will depend on how effective the Pistons are in dealing with Duncan. But can anyone really shut down Duncan over the course of a series?

 

[Kwazy]

matchups???

Rip 6'7"
Tayshaun 6'9"


These guys are long/fast/ and great stamina!

Bruce Bowen can't cover either of these two....Parker...nah..he can't even guard Billups.


The front line of San Antonio....basically Duncan....but can Big Ben cover him..??....maybe even Rasheed with his long arms could give Duncan trouble.

Lastly, foul shooting may kill San Antonio....might even come down to what Nazr Mohamed and Horry do?

 

[Big Papa Smurf]

The only great player I can think of who latched on to a championship team late in his career was the Big O, Oscar Robertson, with the Bucks in the early 70's. Otherwise, I don't think this move really works.

Robertson did not latch on with the Bucks. He was dealt for an all-star in Flyn Robinson and Charlie Paulk.

 

[Breeze]

Rip 6'7"
Tayshaun 6'9"


These guys are long/fast/ and great stamina!

Bruce Bowen can't cover either of these two....Parker...nah..he can't even guard Billups.


The front line of San Antonio....basically Duncan....but can Big Ben cover him..??....maybe even Rasheed with his long arms could give Duncan trouble.

Lastly, foul shooting may kill San Antonio....might even come down to what Nazr Mohamed and Horry do?

Trust me, Bowen will shut down Hamilton and they'll probably put Horry or Ginobili on Prince.

Bowen nearly drove Ray Allen nuts during the Sonics/Spurs series and held him well below his season averages. Rip Hamilton is a poor mans' Allen.

Even Kobe Bryant has fits against Bowen. He's the best perimeter defender in the league in my opinion.

 

[Breeze]

For the record,

I say the Spurs in 6 as well. I think Detroit is good, but they'll get outclassed by the Spurs. The Spurs do everything Detroit does but better.

 

[zydeco]

I think you're right - Bowen is underrated.

 

[homonger]

My rooting interest in the Pistons is strictly financial. Truthfully, I think the Spurs might be a better team, but Detroit has a way of just beating you in a very efficient, non-glamorous way. Last year, no one gave them a chance and when it was all over, it seemed obvious they were the better team. San Antonio is nothing like that dysfunctional L.A. Laker team, but then again, that dysfunctional Laker team beat them last year.

Critical difference--The Spurs are better this year, with the addition of Mohammed and Barry. I don't know if the Pistons are any better. McDyess for Okur, maybe a wash. But no more Mike James and no more Corliss Williamson. I don't know, it will be a very interesting chess match between two fine coaches.

 

[holden]

Rip 6'7"
Tayshaun 6'9"


These guys are long/fast/ and great stamina!

Bruce Bowen can't cover either of these two....Parker...nah..he can't even guard Billups.


The front line of San Antonio....basically Duncan....but can Big Ben cover him..??....maybe even Rasheed with his long arms could give Duncan trouble.

Lastly, foul shooting may kill San Antonio....might even come down to what Nazr Mohamed and Horry do?

the spurs are the best defensive team in the nba while pistons were the best defense in the east, I'm sure they will be able to stop detroit - they not what you call a offensive power house. Detroit doesn't really have a 'goto guy'(their missing ingredient), a player who get a score in the crucial moments. Pistons play a team oriented offense, if everyone is covered no one creates exceptionally well. Spurs have Duncan as 'goto guy' and Manu who can create off the dribble

plus the spurs can run and play offense as witness in the sun's series, they are not limited to just one style

 

[zydeco]

As homonger said we have two exceptionally well coached squads here. I think Popovich, even with all his team's success, is somewhat underrated as a coach - and as far as Brown goes, it's hard to under estimate his coaching genius. It should be an excellent series.

 

[iluvbtca]

the spurs are the best defensive team in the nba while pistons were the best defense in the east, I'm sure they will be able to stop detroit - they not what you call a offensive power house. Detroit doesn't really have a 'goto guy'(their missing ingredient), a player who get a score in the crucial moments. Pistons play a team oriented offense, if everyone is covered no one creates exceptionally well. Spurs have Duncan as 'goto guy' and Manu who can create off the dribble

plus the spurs can run and play offense as witness in the sun's series, they are not limited to just one style

The "goto guy" argument is such an old bit ... Someone hit the siren! Over the past two years the Pistons have proven that they don't have ONE "goto guy" but instead have THREE (Rip, Sheed and Mr. Big Shot). The Spurs are an ankle roll away from being very average.

This should be a great series since they have very similar styles. I'm not convinced that the Spurs can score as much as they played in the defensively impaired West. In fact, the Spurs remind me a lot of last year's Pacers (O'Neal = Duncan, Miller = Ginobli, Artest = Bowen) and so I think I can see Rip getting off.

To me, the key will be the Pistons ability to stop Parker and Manu's dribble penetration. Chauncey struggled with Barnaby Jones so there will be problems with either Spur.

Expect to see the very consistent Tayshaun have a BIG series on both ends and add the letters MVP to his credentials.

 

[holden]

The "goto guy" argument is such an old bit ... Someone hit the siren! Over the past two years the Pistons have proven that they don't have ONE "goto guy" but instead have THREE (Rip, Sheed and Mr. Big Shot). The Spurs are an ankle roll away from being very average.

Rip, sheed and chauncey have never been traditional goto guys, there's been so many lulls in their offense this yr where they would go 5 mins without scoring a bucket and against a good defensive team who had a week to prep for their motion offense, I can see a need for one.

well you can also argue detroit is an ankle roll or two away from being below average

As for prince I liked the guy, but for some reason last series he has not been up to his usual defensive self, first game he stop wade then something happened

 

[new2game]

Should be the Pistons....

....If they can come with their "A" game...but they don't seem to handle success very well...They take game 1 from Miami, and with a chance to put a stranglehold on that series, let the Heat back in it by blowing games 2 and 3...and then have to fight to the bitter end to get to the Finals. They better not let San Antonio get the upper hand on them...Although if the play is allowed to be more Piston style...rough, tough inside,..I find that for all his skill for a big man, Duncan is relatively soft...I think if he gets jostled around enough...he'll lose his effectiveness. Duncan seems to have a certain body language when his team is down...slouched shoulders, walking over to the bench...I'm not that big a Duncan fan...but remember, that I only really took an interest in pro basketball over the last couple of yrs...so maybe someone can refute some of the things I've said... but those are my observations as a casual fan.. ...I think it will go 6 with the Pistons winning it...


N2G

 

[homonger]

I find that for all his skill for a big man, Duncan is relatively soft...I think if he gets jostled around enough...he'll lose his effectiveness. Duncan seems to have a certain body language when his team is down...slouched shoulders, walking over to the bench...

Although Duncan is a great player, I think there is some truth to what you say. I thought he got thrown out of sorts during the Olympics, for example. But let's face it, it isn't very often that the Spurs and Duncan really have to face any adversity, so I'm not really sure how Duncan would respond if his team fell behind.

 

[Kwazy]

Miami/San Antonio are very different...

....If they can come with their "A" game...but they don't seem to handle success very well...They take game 1 from Miami, and with a chance to put a stranglehold on that series, let the Heat back in it by blowing games 2 and 3...and then have to fight to the bitter end to get to the Finals. They better not let San Antonio get the upper hand on them...Although if the play is allowed to be more Piston style...rough, tough inside,..I find that for all his skill for a big man, Duncan is relatively soft
N2G

Detroit was probably actually lucky to get past Miami....but does not mean that San Antonio is better than Detroit. Miami has two of the toughest matchups in basketball. I've been saying all year that Dwayne Wade is highly underrated. He will give any team fits when healthy, ...and SHAQ of course can post up and get his way against any player/team in the league.

Duncan will not give the same problems to Detroit as SHAQ does to anyone. Billups can post up Parker. Tayshan can cover and score against Ginobili.

It will probably come down to how good San Antonio really is as a team, and if Horry has one last flash of Magic, as well as Mohammed and Barry.

 

[Cool Dude]

Game On!

Remember the Alamo.....Texas lost!